Hello everyone, I just purchased a Dell Precision T1700 that came with 16GB of Non-ECC RAM instaled, but I sse in the manual tthat this system can run 32 GB ECC RAM. Would it be wise to upgrade? I will mainly use this system for work, some video editing (1808p), learning photoshop and some light gaming with emulators like dolphin, cemu and all the classic gamess from the 80's 90's (No resource heavy modern games at all). Specs: Windows 10 Pro (64-Bit) Intel Core i7-4790 16GB DDR3 RAM Nvidia Quadro K2200 Graphics (4 GB) 256GB SSD BD-RE Optical Drive
It's not recommended, because... ------------------------------------------------------ Can I replace ECC RAM with non-ECC? Adding non-ECC memory to an ECC system may cause startup errors and will disable the error-checking and correcting ability of your memory modules. While your system may still operate, the enhanced features of the ECC modules will no longer be functioning as ECC in your computer.
Upgrading the RAM on your Dell Precision T1700 from 16GB of Non-ECC to 32GB of ECC RAM can be a wise decision, depending on your specific needs and workload. The main advantage of ECC RAM lies in its error-correcting capabilities, which can help prevent system crashes and data corruption, rather than a noticeable performance boost. While 16GB of RAM is generally sufficient for most tasks, upgrading to 32GB can provide a noticeable performance boost, particularly when multitasking or working with memory-intensive applications like video editing and Photoshop. This can lead to smoother performance and faster rendering times. The ECC and non-ECC RAM modules have different architectures and are designed for different use cases. ECC (Error-Correcting Code) RAM is designed to detect and correct internal data corruption, which can be particularly beneficial for work-related tasks where data integrity is crucial. If you are working with large files or performing critical tasks, the added reliability of ECC RAM can be advantageous. It's important to note that you cannot mix ECC and non-ECC RAM in the same system. If you decide to upgrade to ECC RAM, you will need to replace your existing non-ECC RAM entirely. This means you should purchase a matched set of ECC RAM sticks to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. Given that you mentioned using the system for video editing, Photoshop, and light gaming, the additional RAM could help with handling larger projects and multitasking, the added reliability and data integrity of ECC RAM could be beneficial. The Quadro K2200 graphics card also suggests that you are using this system for professional-grade tasks, where ECC RAM can be advantageous. However, if your current workload is manageable with 16GB, you might not see a significant difference immediately. If you plan to keep this system for a while, upgrading to 32GB of ECC RAM can help future-proof your setup, allowing you to take on more demanding tasks as your needs evolve. To maintain the full functionality and benefits of ECC RAM, it's best to use ECC RAM modules that are compatible with your Dell Precision T1700 system. Replacing the existing 16GB of non-ECC RAM with 32GB of ECC RAM would be the recommended upgrade path, as it will allow you to take advantage of the enhanced error-correcting capabilities of ECC memory. In summary, if your budget allows and you value the benefits of ECC RAM, upgrading to 32GB could enhance your system's performance and reliability for your work and creative projects. Just ensure that you replace the existing non-ECC RAM with ECC modules to avoid any compatibility issues.
if your machines uses Non-ECC ram that is what it uses if you install ECC RAM your machine will start to crash because your mobo is not design to run ECC RAM....safe yourself the headaches.
The i7-4790 doesn't support ECC Memory. You need something like the Xeon E3-1241 v3... Google the cpu specs...